Inking apparatus.



No. 636,863. Patented Nov. I4, |899.

. W. SPALCKHAVER.

INKING APPARATUS.

(Application led Nov. 30, 1898.) '(No Model.)

UNirsn STATES -PATENT rerun.

WILLIAM sPALckHAvER, on NEw YORK, N. Y., AssIGNoR To ROBERT Hon',

THEODORE H. MEAD, AND CHARLES W. CARPENTER, OF SAME PLACE.

iNKlNe APPARATUS.

sPEcIF'Ic'ATIoN ferming part ef Letters Patent No. 636,863, dated November 14, 1899. Application filed November 30, 1898. Serial No. 697,871. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM SPALOKHAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inkin g Apparatus, fully described and represented in the following specication and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

1o This invention relates to certain improvements in inking apparatus, and is more particularly directed toward improvements in inking apparatus designed for use in connection with web-printing machines havinga pluL r 5 rality of pairs of printing-couples, said couples being capable of being arranged to at times perfect a web and also print it in colors and at other times to perfect a plurality of webs. While, however, the invention is particularly zo adapted for the use above stated, it has a much wider field of application. It is not, therefore, to be limited to use with this particular style of machines, as it may be used with any machine in which it is desired to z 5 change quickly from one colored ink to another or in which it is desired to blend or mix inks of different colors.

In some printingmachines,and particularly in machines i`n which the couples are at times 3o used to print and perfect webs and'at times used to print in colors on a web, it is of course necessary to change the color of the ink used and to do this as expeditiously as possible.

The object of this invention is to produce mechanism by which a change in the color of the ink used can be rapidly effected and to do this with little or no change in the mechanism of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to produce an inkin g apparatus in which a plurality of colors can be supplied to a single set of distributing and form rollers, the colors being mixed or blended over the entire surface of the rollers and producing by the blend a different color.

' The invention consists in certain parts, improvements,and combinations, as will be hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

5o In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which like letters and numerals of reference indicate the same parts, Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation of so much of a printing-machine as is necessary to illustrate the application of the 5 5 invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views, on a larger scale, illustrating the devices by which the ductor-rolls of the inking mechanism are rendered operative and inoperative.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the 6o frame of the style of machine which has been selected to illustrate the concrete embodiment of the invention. The machine prints on a web W, and as the machine is arranged f theweb is led between the couples 1 and 2 65 and, being thereby printed on one side, between the couples 3 and 4, by which it is perfected, and then over suitable guides and between the couples 5 and 6 and 7 and 8, by which it is printed in colors. 7o

The ink may be supplied to the several printing-couples in various ways. In the machineshown the lower set of couples l 2 and 3 4 are shown as being supplied with ink from fountains 9 and 10 through series of distribut- 75 ing-rolls 11 and 12, this inking apparatus being of the usual description. In the present application of the invention each of the upper printing-couples is shown as provided with a single set of form and distributing 8o rollers, each set being arranged to receive its ink from a plurality of sources of ink-supply. The single set of distributing and form rollers from which the printing member 5 of the couple 5 6 is supplied is marked 13. This set 85 of distributing and form rollers may be variously arranged; but the arrangement shown, in which two sets of rollers receive their ink from a single primary distributing-roller 13', is regarded as an efficient one, because of the 9o exceilent distribution obtained thereby.

In the machine shown the sources from which ink is supplied to the set of distributing and form rollers are two in number and consist of fountains 14 and 15. These foun- 95 tains are provided with the ordinary fountain-rolls and 150, said rolls being operated by pawls 141 and 151. These pawls are carried on arms 142 and 152, these arms being carried on shafts 143 and 153. From the loo shafts 143 153 extend arms 144 154, and these arms are connected by links 145 155 to a rocklever156. The connections between the links 145 155 and the rock-lever 156 may, if desired, be made detachable, and the connection between link 145 and rock-lever 156 is so shown. This detachable connection is effected by forming the lower end of the link 145 into an open-sided loop and closing the open side of the loop by a set-screw 145. The purpose of this detachable connection is to render the fountain-roll inoperative, as will hereinafter be described. This connection necd not, however, be detachable; but the connection between the link 145 and the rock-lever 156 may be made in a manner similar to that by which the link 155 is connected to the rock-lever 156. If the connection is so made, the fountain-rolls may be .made inoperative by throwing up the pawls 141 151. The lever 156 is operated through a rod 157, which is forked at its lower end and embraces a way cam-shaft 158, which is or may be operated from any suitable part of the machine. The rod 157 carries a cam-roll 159, which rides on a cam 160, carried on the way cam-shaft 158. From this construction it is obvious that as the shaft 158 rotates the rock-lever 156 will be operated and the fountain-rolls 140 and 150 will be turned by their pawls. If desired, there may be two of these shafts 158, one on each side of the machine, or a single shaft lnay be used.

Ink is transmitted from the fountain-roll 140 to the primary distributing-roll 13 by means of a ductor-roll 16. This ductor-roll 16 is mounted in arms 161, which are pivoted on studs 162, suitably mounted on the frame 1. One of these arms forms a lever, and its end is connected by a link 163 to a rock-lever 164, which is mounted on ashaft 165, suitably located in the frame of the machine. The connection between the rock-lever 164 and the link 163 is a detachable one. In the present instance this connection is made by forming one end of the link with an open-sided loop or yoke and providing a set-screw 166 to close said side. The rock-lever 164 is operated by a rod 167, which carries a cam-stud 168, which cooperates with a cam 169, carried on the way-shaft 158. The fountain-roll 16 is removably mounted in the ends of the arms 161, the arms being provided with ordinary split bearings.

Ink is transmitted from the fountain-roll 150 to the primary distributing-roll 13' by means of a ductor-roll 17. This ductor-roll 17 is mounted in arms 170, which are secured to the shaft 165 of the rock-lever 164. The arms 170 are also provided with split bearings, so that the ductor-roll 17 can be readily removed from them.

The printing member 8 of the couple 7 8 is shown as receiving its ink from a set of form and distributing rolls 1S, which are like those which were described as used in connection with the couple 5 6, the set of rolls receivingr their ink from a primary distributing-roll 18. Two fountains 19 and 2O are shown so positioned as to deliver ink to the primary distributing-roll 18', the ink being carried from the fountains to the primary roll by means of oscillating ductor-rolls 21 and 22. The fountains 19 and 2O are provided with fountain-rolls 190 and 220. These rolls 190 and 220 are operated from the way cam-shaft 158 by connections which are duplicates of those before described in connection with the fountains 14 and 15. A detailed description of these connections is therefore deemed unnecessary. In the same way the ductor-rolls 21 and 22 are operated by connections which are duplicates of those used to operate the ductor-rolls 16 and 17, and for the same reason a detailed description of these connections is not deemed necessary.

The machine which embodies the invention is shown as arranged to perfect a single web in black by the lower couples and to print the same web in colors by the upper couples. In this machine the fountains 14 and 19 are arranged to contain colored inks and the fountains 15 and 2O are arranged to contain black inks. With the machine printing in colors, as shown, therefore, the ductorrolls 17 and 22 will be thrown out of operation by lifting them out of their bearings, the arrangement ofthe parts being shown in Fig. 3. The fountain-rolls 150 and 220 will also be rendered inoperative by throwing up the spring-pawls which operate on their ratchets. With this arrangement of the parts it is obvious that the sets of distributing-rolls 13 18 will receive only colored inks, such inks only being supplied from the fountains 14 and 19. Should, however, it be desired to use the machine to print two webs in black, the web marked W after passing between the couples 1 2 and 4 5 will be led out of the machine, and a second web from any suitable source will be led between the couples 5 6 and 7 8. Vith this arrangement of the machine the ductor-rolls 16 and 21 will be removed from their carrying-arms 161, and these arms will themselves be disconnected from the rock-lever 164. The fountain-rolls 140 and 190 for the fountains 14 and 19 will be rendered inoperative either by throwing up their pawls, or, if desired and as shown in Fig. 2, the links 145 155 will be disconnected from the rock-lever 156. Vtith this arrangement of the machine there will be no ink transmitted from the fountains 14 and 19 to the sets of distributing and form rollers, and such rollers will receive their ink entirely from the fountains 15 and 20. It will be seen, therefore, that by simply throwing out either set of ductors change can almost be instan taneously made from one colored ink to another.

It may sometimes be desired to produce a color by blending or mixing two other colorsas, for instance, to produce a green by blending blue and yellow. The invention is also IOO IIO

ceases e adapted to effect this result. By putting blue in the fountain 14, for instance, and yellow in the fountain l5 and allowing both the ductors 16 and 17 to operate, the two colors will be mixed and blended on the distributingrollers and green will be produced and applied to the form-rollers.

Various means may be employed to carry the invention into effect, and the invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the specific form of devices shown and described. Furthermore, while the machine shown is illustrated as having only two sources of ink-supply for each of the upper printing-,couples it is obvious that more than two sources of supply maybe utilized, if desired. So, too,while in the present machine the lower set of couples is shown as receiving their ink from a single source of ink-supply it is obvious that a plurality of sets of ink-supply may be used with these couples also or that a plurality of such sets may be used with a single couple. It is also to be understood that while the invention is shown as applied to a machine in which the printing-couples are cylinders it may be used with any form of printing-cou ple.

I am aware that it is old to divide an inkfountain into a series of compartments, the entire series of compartments being arranged to deliver ink to a single set of hiking-rollers, and I am also aware that in such constructions the ink is sometimes mixed or blended where two adjoining colors come together. The present invention is to be carefully differentiated from such constructions.

1. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a printing-surface, of a set of distributing devices,a plurality ofindependent sources of ink-supply, each source' being capable of supplying ink to the entire inking-surface of the distributing devices, and means whereby each source of ink-supply may be caused to supply the entire amount of ink necessary for inking purposes to the distributing devices,A substantially as described.

2. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a printing-surface, of a set of distributin g-rollers, a plurality of independent sources of ink-supply, each source being capable of supplying ink to the entire inking-surface of the distributing-rollers, and means connecting each source of ink-supply with the distributing-rolls, said means being capable of being rendered inoperative when desired,sub stantially as described. l

3. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a printing-surface, of a set of distributing and form rollers, a series of ink-fountains each fountain being capable of su pplying ink to the entire inking-surface of the distributing-roll, ductor-rolls between the ink-fountains and the distributing apparatus and means for rendering each ductor-roll inoperative whereby any fountain may be used to supply the entire amount of ink necessary for inking purposes, substantially as described.

4C. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a printing-surface, of a set of form and distribututin g rolls, a plurality of ductors parallel to the ink-receiving rolls of the set and to each other, and a plurality of sources of ink-supply with which the ductors communicate, said sources suppl yin gink to the ductors throughout their entire length, and means whereby the ductors may be caused to supply ink severally or simultaneously to the distributing-roll, substantially as described.

5. In a printing-machine, the combination with a series of couples which can be arranged to print and perfect a web in colors, or to peri fect a plurality of webs, of a set of distribut: ing and form rollers acting to supply ink to the printing member of one of the couples, and a plurality of sources of ink-supply each of which is arranged to supply ink to the entire surface of the distrib uting-rolls, substan tially as described.

6. In a printing-machine, the combination with a series of couples which can be arranged to print and perfect a web in colors or perfect a plurality of webs, of a set of distributing and form rollers acting tosupply ink to the printing member of one of the couples, a plurality of d uctors parallel to the ink-receiving rollers of the set and to each other, and a plurality of sources of ink-supply operating to supply ink to the ductors throughout their entire length with which the ductors communicate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM SPALCKHAVER.

Witnesses:

T. F. KEHOE, S. WINTHAL.

IOO 

